P.A. Moed

You don’t take a photograph, you make it. – Ansel Adams When I take a photo walk, I often look for ways to frame the shot to make it more “inviting.”  In other words, I look for something that draws my eyes into the scene like bright colors or a brillant sunset, for example, and invites me to linger and take in all the details. This week, we’re focusing on one technique: framing the shot using…

By carefully placing two different objects or concepts together in a photograph…one is able to create an interesting sense of contrast which, in turn, can elicit a reaction, provoke meaningful thought, lead to a story, or just raise a smile. Such juxtapositions will have different effects on different viewers, depending on how they are presented, and on the viewers’ own experience and background.…

Design is thinking made visual. – Saul Bass In the whirlwind that is my life right now, I am posting unpredictably, but one thing is certain–I’m always eager to re-join our wonderful online community again. This week, Tina revisits one of our challenges from the past. Given that our human brains are wired to look for patterns, it makes sense that Shapes and Designs are powerful photographic…

I try to think about optimism. I try to look at the beautiful things in life. ~Dolores O’Riordan For our first challenge of 2026, the Lens-Artists are posting simultaneously at 12:00 pm today EST to celebrate our return from the holidays. We hope that you had plenty of time to relax, taste delicious treats and enjoy the company of those you love. Before we tempt you with a new challenge, we’re…

The calendar is telling us that there are just a few days until we turn the page on the present year. Are you looking forward to closing the books on 2025? I am! No matter if 2025 was memorable or a misery, I am hoping that 2026 is joyful for you. This week all the Lens-Artists are inviting you to share your photos that never made “the cut” throughout the year. Here are a few of my photos which…

We yearn for the beautiful, the unknown, and the mysterious. Issey Miyake When life is a bit crazy (like it is right now!), I go out with my camera, hoping that someone or something catches my eye. It’s not simply a distraction. I’m searching for something beautiful, something I’ve never seen before, or something mysterious. This elevates my day and my mood. So, this week, for Lens-Artists…

If some longing goes unmet, don’t be astonished. We call that Life. Anna Freud This week, Egidio challenges us to share what we long for: a person, a place or something that’s inaccessible, far away or no longer a part of your life. Portuguese, his native language, is very efficient and has one word to describe this bitter-sweet longing: saudade. I saw this word on a sign posted on my…

I am delighted that I can join you for this week’s challenge! In the quiet weeks/months when I’ve been unable to type or snap a photo, I have often thought of you and how your support and caring notes have been encouraging, uplifting, and simply wonderful. So today for my “inaugural” return to WP, I am sending to you many hugs and thanks. Not suprisingly, Ritva’s theme this week spoke to me. As…

Hi everyone. When we were in Portugal I had a bad fall and I ended up breaking both my wrists. Needless to say,  I can’t communicate very much. but I wanted to let you all know that I will be coming back once my wrists heal and I can type again.   It’s frustrating of course not to be able to use my hands.  This accident has reminded me that patience is a virtue and it’s something that I’ve…

…the challenge is to use only ONE picture. One that you find important, meaningful to you, maybe sending a message – and then explain why you picked just that picture. ~ Ann-Christine One photo. OK, Ann-Christine, you’re on! I’ve selected a photo from our travels to Cyprus a few weeks ago. It’s a fascinating place. We covered the island–stopping in Paphos, Larnaca, Nicosia –and then the coastal…

What’s the color doing to the black and white photograph, or is the black and white better because it is more graphically powerful? ~Joel Meyerowitz, A Question of Color A few weeks ago, I visited a photography exhibit featuring the work of Joel Meyerowitz, an internationally-acclaimed street artist. Pairs of his photos–nearly identical–were set next to each other. One image was in black and…

You don’t have to compose a masterpiece every time, but I think the challenge of art is always searching for something different, searching for a new sensitivity, a new perspective, a new vision. ~Ludovico Einaudi Ritva has set a great challenge for us this week. She asks us to try a new perspective and shoot from above. I’ve shamelessly “adopted” some of her suggestions, as you’ll see below. Be…

In the depths of winter, I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer. Albert Camus So many challenges in life test our resilience. That’s true for all of us. For Anne’s thoughtful and beautiful challenge this week, I’m sharing some photos (some new, some from my archives) which speak to me about resilience. Ready? Here we go. Click on the image for an enlarged view. On a trip to…

My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been. ~ Diane Arbus Welcome back! Some of you are still in the midst of the holidays and others are still in the midst of them. In any case, I hope that you had (or will have) joyful celebrations with friends and family. Here in Italy, there’s one more holiday tomorrow (The Epiphany), which is celebrated with a big procession called the “Cavalcade of…

As the year winds down, many of us look ahead to the new year. We make commitments to ourselves and others to weigh less, exercise more, spend more time with loved ones and less time worrying….and so on. I’m not a fan of making new year’s resolutions because my success rate is abysmal. Instead, I assess the high and low points in the year. What needs to be changed? Who and what am I grateful for?…